AN outbreak of bird flu has been confirmed in poultry in Oxfordshire.

The Government had confirmed that the H5N1 virus, which is highly contagious, was found in the birds at a premises near Faringdon on Tuesday this week (October 4).

A protection zone of 3km, a total of 1.8 miles, and surveillance zone of 10km, a total of six miles, has been but in place.

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The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has said that all fowl at the site ‘will be humanely culled’.

Avian flu is spread by close contact with an infected bird, whether it is dead or alive.

It comes as Norfolk and Suffolk, and parts of Essex, have been placed in an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone. 

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Read more from this author

This story was written by Gee Harland. She joined the team in 2022 as a senior multimedia reporter.

Gee covers Wallingford, Wantage and Didcot.

Get in touch with her by emailing: Gee.harland@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @Geeharland

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